Chancellor’s Search Committee holds first meeting

Chancellor’s Search Committee holds first meetingJune 23, 2003Sandi Mulconrysandi@groupmcom.com

The Syracuse University Chancellor’s Search Committee held its organizational meeting June 5. In attendance, along with 20 of the 21 committee members, was R. William (Bill) Funk, national managing director of Korn/Ferry International’s Education Practice, who is serving as consultant for the search.

Joseph O. Lampe, chair of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Chancellor’s Search Committee, charged the committee with identifying and recommending three to five unranked candidates to the Board, which will make the final selection.

Funk explained the general process for selection of the candidates and shared a proposed timetable for each segment of the search. Members of the committee also reviewed the position announcement, which will appear in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s July 11 and July 18 issues, Black Issues in Higher Education’s July 17 issue and The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education issue of July 14.

“This is one of the most attractive leadership opportunities in higher education today, and the Board [of Trustees] seeks an appropriate leader of national stature and strategic vision,” the announcement reads. “The next Chancellor and President will understand the role of a private major research university in the 21st century and will have the ability to energize all of the University’s constituencies. The selected individual will be committed to academic excellence and will have a passion for the education and development of students.”

In addition to the position announcement, nominations will be sought from higher education associations, the higher education community, and friends of the University.

While applications and nominations will be accepted until a new Chancellor and President is named, interested persons are encouraged to submit their materials by Aug. 15.

A survey soliciting input from members of the University community on SU’s greatest strengths, the challenges it will face over the next five years, and the most desirable skills and qualities for its next Chancellor has already elicited more than 240 responses. The survey is available at http://sunews.syr.edu/chancellorsearch/index.html and can be accessed from the University’s home page. Findings will be reviewed at the committee’s next meeting, Aug. 1.

“I’m pleased to report that we remain on target to achieve our goal of finalizing the selection of Chancellor Shaw’s successor by April 2004,” says Lampe.